Bhutto served twice as the democratically elected leader between 1988 and 1996 -- the first woman prime minister in the Muslim world -- but both governments fell because of allegations of corruption and misrule.

She lives in exile in Britain and the United Arab Emirates. Her husband, former Sen. Asif Ali Zardari, 50, was freed on bail in December 2004 after eight years in detention in Pakistan over a raft of graft cases.

Interpol said "red notices" were issued against Bhutto on Jan. 18 on charges of corruption and absconding to avoid being served arrest warrants while Zardari's notice was issued Jan. 24 on charges of corruption.

The notices inform the international police organization's 184 member countries that arrest warrants exist, but it's up to each country to decide on what action to take.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 4, 2006
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